Comments on: LeBron all but concedes, says ‘it would be great’ if Kevin Durant won MVPhttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/
Basketball - NBC SportsFri, 09 Dec 2016 12:52:50 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.com/By: money2longhttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-296001
Fri, 11 Apr 2014 02:05:44 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-296001Lol. Anti ….
You’re a tool
]]>By: antistratfordianhttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295935
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 20:40:51 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295935LeBron is the only player in the league leading his team in scoring, rebounding, assists, total steals, three pointers and field goal percentage while also being his team’s best defender. No one has to do so much for their team on a nightly basis. That alone should make this an open and shut case, but I will continue anyway…

Durant plays alongside Serge Ibaka, a 2x First Team All-Defensive player, who leads the league in total blocks for the 4th year in a row. The only All-Defensive player on the Miami Heat is LeBron James – he doesn’t have the luxury of another All-Defensive teammate. (LeBron doesn’t even have another All-NBA teammate to rely on this year.)

Durant can afford to do what he did yesterday, not being able to throw a rock in the ocean (8-26 .308), and the Thunder can still rescue him because Westbrook is a top 5-10 player and Serge Ibaka is a First Team All-Defensive player. Miami cannot afford for LeBron to shoot .308% in any game – so James has less margin for error (probably why he only has 5 games under 40% shooting, compared to Durant’s 13).

On top of that, James is putting up a one-of-a-kind statistical season. No one has averaged 27/7/6 on 57% shooting before (no one has even averaged 25/5/5 on 56% shooting, let alone LeBron’s line). No one has shot 57% from the field and 38% from three before (to be more precise, he’s shooting .569 and .376 – but everything still applies). No one has made 100 threes shooting 57% from the field before. No one has even made 50 threes shooting at least 56% from the field before (!!!), so LeBron is really blowing history out of the water in this regard. He’s opening up a whole new world of possibilities as far as a prolific three point shooter and elite scorer also being able to shoot almost 60% from the field. So LeBron is trailblazing in 2014 (what Durant has been doing has already been done by others before him, and done better).

And if that wasn’t impressive enough, James has accomplished this in a season when the Heat have trotted out 19 to 20 different starting lineups (last year they used 6 different starting lineups). 14 different players have started games for Miami this year – and we all know about Wade missing 27 games.

But wait, there’s more! He’s also doing it in a season after he’s already won 2 consecutive MVPs and 2 consecutive rings and Finals MVPs. Durant should be a lot hungrier – but is he? People bring up Durant’s PER advantage, but LeBron and Durant are only separated by 0.8 points in that metric, well within any margin of error.

Considering all of that – and the fact that, like the Thunder, the Heat are a top 2 seed in their conference (and will probably end up the top seed) – I think LeBron’s case for MVP is stronger than Durant’s, which is built primarily on shooting and supported mainly by the public’s naive fascination with scoring totals.

”Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.” – Mahatma Gandhi

]]>By: chicitybullshttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295907
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 18:20:14 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295907“historically unprecedented obstacles”??? Ok, I can see who/what I’m dealing with. I can’t have a rational conversation with you. You’re either irrational or a child. Either way, there’s no point in continuing.
]]>By: antistratfordianhttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295906
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 18:16:45 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295906Thibs deserved Coach of the Year. Rose deserved a pat on the back. LeBron deserved MVP for being the best and most productive two-way player in the league and still finding a way to win 58 games whilst facing historically unprecedented obstacles. Rose would’ve crumbled under the same pressure (not unlike what he did in the playoffs that year.)
]]>By: antistratfordianhttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295904
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 18:12:51 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-29590450-40-90 is perfectly fine, but it was done 11 times before Durant did it last year, and by players who are not that great, so it’s only so significant. But what LeBron is doing this year – 57% from the field, 38% from three – no one has ever done before. (It’s pretty unbelievable that someone can shoot 57% from the field and still lead his team in three point makes. LeBron has made more threes this year than Ray Allen.)

Durant’s season this year would rank as perhaps LeBron’s 6th best? 7th best?

]]>By: chicitybullshttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295902
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 18:10:24 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295902Rose deserved the award that year. He lead his team to the best record in the league that year. We all know how you love to slurp lebron but even hookers get a day off. Relax, it’ll be ok. lebron is still good.
]]>By: money2longhttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295870
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 16:50:35 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295870MVP is an award that highlights a particular moment in time. so of course it isn’t a representation of a player’s overall talent more than it is a reflection of a player’s worth. hence the term value. it’s the reason why, had danny green not flamed out in the finals, was certainly on his way to being named an MVP. and all smart basketball fans know he isn’t the best even on his team.
]]>By: davidlyhttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-2/#comment-295866
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 16:37:36 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295866That is precisely the kind of unconventional approach I mean, jbeagles, and I while I didn’t have anyone specific in mind, Noah, I would agree, is about a good a choice as any. Of course, if he were to actually get the award, NBA fandom would have a collective conniption.
]]>By: leahcima1http://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-2/#comment-295862
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 16:29:36 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295862Class act Lebron. Honesty and character trump the haters. (You listening cantonjerk0)
]]>By: reesesteel23http://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295836
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 14:52:25 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295836Most fans are aware that KD has earned it and played better this year….You guys judge an entire fan base off of like 2 obsessive Heat trolls on PBT.
]]>By: reesesteel23http://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295834
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 14:50:33 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295834It would be easier to debate and take this site more seriously if people didn’t say things like this……far superior?

I mean Come on Man.

]]>By: usavebobhttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295832
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 14:43:58 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295832Last year’s 50-40-90 mustn’t count for anything…. along with the scoring titles. He’s gotten better, stronger and he’s only 25. It will be great watching the only two super elite players over the next 5 years or so.
]]>By: nyheels29http://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295811
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 13:07:07 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295811Blake will definitely come in 3rd in the MVP voting.
]]>By: jbeagles23http://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-2/#comment-295797
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 12:09:05 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295797Davidly. Beat post you’ve ever written. If we’re talking most valuable to their team this year is say Noah
]]>By: davidlyhttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295794
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:27:52 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295794The notion that LBJ does not still deserve consideration for MVP this season ignores too many basketball realities to take seriously. It has been pointed out how much Durant has done with Westbrook out, rightfully so. But LBJ has carried the Heat in Wade’s absence. Based upon most of the arbitrary metrics that go into awarding regular season MVP, you may as well give it to both of them.

Personally, I support a more unusual approach to MVP — but it does contain one similar bromide: Which player is more valuable to his team than any other player his? I have repeatedly used Lamar Odom’s 6th Man season as an example: he started, he came off the bench, he started some more, he came off the bench, all the while keeping his team in first place and keeping the locker room positive. Had it not been for Odom that year, not only would his team not have been a contender to repeat their title, they would have imploded way earlier than getting swept by the Mavs.

This season, who does that award go to?

]]>By: trevor123698http://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295781
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 09:38:46 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295781only in forums will a moron show this type of confidence in somehow who needed it fixed for him to win. KD is far superior.
]]>By: notinmyhouse56http://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295773
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 08:45:53 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295773Ok, I apologise then for my little aggressive tone.
I guess that playing less minutes and in general ‘coasting’ is in favor of LeBron? How is that so?
]]>By: kanemoneyhttp://nba.nbcsports.com/2014/04/09/lebron-all-but-concedes-says-it-would-be-great-if-kevin-durant-won-mvp/comment-page-1/#comment-295767
Thu, 10 Apr 2014 07:49:05 +0000http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=700298#comment-295767Durant was simply better this year, both individually and in relative comparison to his roster (which suffered many injuries).

I am sick of people who simply assume Lebron should win it every year. His style of basketball is awesome. He does make his teammates better. He is ruthlessly efficient. He also has a roster comprised of players who are all much better than their contracts. Few other teams have this luxury.

I am a huge LBJ fan, but Durant was just flat out ridiculous. In the regular season he had stretches where he was simply unstoppable. It was one of the best individual seasons in recent years for any player.